FACTS ABOUT THE SIM CITY 2000 SOFTWARE PACKAGE

Before using the software package SIM CITY 2000 by Maxis, there are a few facts the purchaser should know. First, the software is legally protected by copyright. This means that the purchaser does not own the software program but merely a copy of it. Thus, he or she cannot copy, distribute, modify, or sell the software without the permission of the copyright owner. In this case, they would need to obtain it from the Maxis Corporation. A similar example would be buying an audio compact disc. You can listen to the CD because it is your copy but it is illegal to make other copies of it on tape for distribution. Next, since it is an application software, the program is intended to aid the purchaser in accomplishing certain specific tasks. Being an Entertainment Software, its main purpose is obviously for amusement or stress relief. Examples of other software programs in this genre are fighting games, flight simulators, and screen-savers (the first two usually causing more stress than they relieve). All of these programs are desinged to temporarily divert the attention of individuals from their everyday (probably boring) routine and allow them to participate in new and exciting experiences.

With regards to the reference manual included with the package, it is mainly intended to give the basics needed to begin playing.There is a mini- tutorial at the beginning of the manual which steps you through the creation of a small city. By following the instructions, you create a new city by making roads, buying a powerplant, laying down water and electricity lines,and choosing zoning areas for industry, commerce, and residential. Once this is done, you sit and wait for people to inhabit the area and from there, try to expand the city lines. The manual also tells you what the tools on the sides mean, what the menu bar at the top can do, and what options are usually available. For example, the dollar tool takes you to the budget window where you can issue a bond, increase funding for education, and what will probably become your favorite: raise or lower taxes (although usually you wind up having to raise taxes to the dismay of the inhabitants). However, once you have mastered the basics, the manual becomes useful as a quick reference tool. Thus, the software program and the manual are intended to go hand-in-hand for this software package.

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